Alouette III - jolly old lark

[The Lusiad Knight]

I've been searching the forum and I haven't seen a topic on "jolly old" Alouette III, lets start one;-)



The Aérospatiale Alouette III (Skylark (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylark)) is a single-engine, light utility helicopter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter) developed by Sud Aviation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sud_Aviation) and later manufactured by Aérospatiale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A9rospatiale) of France (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France). The Alouette III is the successor to the Alouette II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A9rospatiale_Alouette_II), being larger and having more seating. Originally powered by a Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine, the Alouette III is recognised for its mountain rescue capabilities and adaptability.

The first version of the Alouette III, the SE 3160 prototype, first flew on 28 February (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_28) 1959 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1959). Production of the SA 316A (SE 3160) began in 1961 and remained in production until 1968 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968), when it was replaced by the SA 316B.

The Alouette III entered in service with the French Armed forces in 1960. From April 1964-1967, three machines were delivered from France for local assembly in Australia, and were used by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at the Woomera Rocket Range for light passenger and recovery of missile parts after test launches at the Range.
Served in Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1971) when 2 planes of the PAF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_Air_Force) were lost in the war,[1] (http://bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1971War/Appendix3.html) and the Portuguese Colonial War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Colonial_War), during 60's and 70's with large utilization in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea, where it proved its qualities.
The SA 316B and the SA 319B both remained in series production up to the early 1980s, when the main production line in France was closed down. However, HAL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustan_Aeronautics_Limited) of India continues to licence-build Alouette IIIs as the Chetak. Versions of the Alouette III were also either licence-built or assembled by IAR in Romania (as the IAR 316 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAR_316)), F+W Emmen in Switzerland, and by Fokker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker) and Lichtwerk in the Netherlands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands).
Production numbers are as follows:

France: 1453
India: 300+ (Still in production.)
Romania: 230
Switzerland: 60
In June 2004, the Alouette III was retired from the French Air Force after 32 years of successful service. It will be replaced by the Eurocopter EC 355 Ecureuil 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_Ecureuil). In the same year, the Swiss Armed Forces announced the retirement of the Alouette III, from the front line by 2006, and entirely by 2010. Venezuelan Air forces retired their Alouette IIIs in the late 90s.
On 21 September (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_21) 2007 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007) after 44 years of successful service, in which hundreds of lives were saved, the Alouette III was retired from the Irish Air Corps.

Specifications (SA 316B)

[/URL]This aircraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Aero-stub_img.svg) article is missing some (or all) of its specifications (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Aircraft/page_content#Aircraft_specifications). If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Find_or_fix_a_stub) by adding them (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A%C3%A9rospatiale_Alouette_III&action=edit).


General characteristics

Crew: 2
Capacity: 5 passengers
Length: 10.03 m (32 ft 11 in)
Rotor diameter: 11.02 m (36.2 ft)
Height: 3.09 m (10.14 ft)
Disc area: m² (ft²)
Empty weight: 1,108 kg (2,442 lb)
[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_Takeoff_Weight"]Max takeoff weight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AEROSPATIALE_ALOUETTE_III.png): 2,200 kg (4,850 lb)
Powerplant: 1× Turboméca Artouste (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbom%C3%A9ca_Artouste) IIIB turboshaft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboshaft), 425 kW (570 shp)
Performance

Maximum speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_speeds#Vno): 210 km/h (110 knots, 130 mph)
Range (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_%28aircraft%29): 540 km (290 nm, 335 mi)
Service ceiling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling_%28aeronautics%29) m (14450ft)
Rate of climb (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_climb): 4.5 m/s (885 ft/min)





Portuguese Air Force 552nd Squadron "Zangões - Drones"








Link: http://www.emfa.pt/www/aeronavesdetalhe.php?lang=pt&cod=aliii













LinK: www.airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net)

[BloodDiamondPants]

Love that helicopter! Is it just me or is it the fact that it looks like an anal probe been the primary reason it is so unloved in comparison with other choppers? Crap, I love anal probes. Thanks for the pic man; truly a great aircraft regardless of looks. :)

[matsalleh18]

nice aloutte helicopters,my dad used fly these babies in anti communist role,fire 20mm down woot woot.

[p_shadow]

And it still "bites"!

p-)

Abraços

[the_hog]

If you can find some photos of the Rhodesian Alos you will see the subtle differences on the exhaust outlets and the infra red guards. Also the seating arrangements.

[Atlantic Friend]

There was one of them birds on the French corvette that was part of the anti-pirate operation in Somalia, IIRC. Oldie but goldie helo it is !

[dogwatch]

A Cold morning in Baldonnel.





Hovering



WIth the IAC S-61 & Dauphin. All now retired!



195 with Wicklow Mountain rescue

[Masai]

Awesome helo.

serve SA well in the bush war.

couple of them still in the SAPS

[the_hog]

Ja as a k car.

[Boina verde]

A litle video of what they can do.

http://br.youtube.com/v/bQULpcvf8ng

link: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=bQULpcvf8ng

[-Church-]

Does France still use it ?

[Mat_fr]

yes -Church-, for exemple one of these nice choppers served during the "ponant" operation..








mat

[Lancero]

We used them for just about anything :)

[Lancero]

In Guinea

[wicked_hind]

Those Turbomeca engines are a piece of cake to maintain. We had one mounted on a test stand at the A&P school I attended. We didn't have the Alouette III unfortunately, but from other helicopter pilots I've spoken to, they have nothing but good things to say about it. It's a nice helicopter.

[-Church-]

yes -Church-, for exemple one of these nice choppers served during the "ponant" operation..

Ah yes I remember those.




The Gazelle looks way better. The AlouetteIII has a kitsch quality to it(even more so with the AlouetteII).

[Eokboy]

nice aloutte helicopters,my dad used fly these babies in anti communist role,fire 20mm down woot woot.
These?



I still see them flying

[Nick_Karatzides]

Hellenic Navy Alouette III SA-319 helicopters. Credit to Αιακος (http://www.modelclub.gr/forums/index.php?action=profile;u=860) & mmaker (http://www.modelclub.gr/forums/index.php?action=profile;u=52).

[Adux]

India's uses them in the highest battlefield of the world, Siachin.

[Yoram777]

The RNLAF still has some as well, but there are only a few left though.
The only thing the last few are really getting used for is filming or taking pictures on events like air shows and stuff like that.

[flanker7]

@Adux

Aren't those Alouette II's?

[Nick_Karatzides]

Hellenic Navy Alouette III SA-319 helicopter equiped with RADAR dome

[-Max-]

Ugly but good, reliable machine.

The South Africans, Rhodesians and Portuguese used it extensively on operations and it proved its worth.

[Nick_Karatzides]

Olympic Airlines Alouette III SA-319 helicopters. The 1st picture found in Hellenic Wings (http://koti.welho.com/msolanak/index.html) site, made by Mr Solanakis. The 2nd and 3rd pics are showing Alexandros Onasis with his personal Alouette III SA-319 helicopter (credit to ramfighter (http://www.modelclub.gr/forums/index.php?action=profile;u=448)).

[wicked_hind]

Ethiopian AF Alouette in storage

[The Lusiad Knight]

It's great to see so many "larks" around the world...p-)

[the_hog]

In Guinea


Looks very similar to a Rhodesian K car.

[Mathieu29]

@Adux

Aren't those Alouette II's?
Rignt flanker7.
SA.315B Alouette II "Cheetah" are used by the Air Force and the Army Light Aviation in the advanced observation posts of the Himalayas.

[Adux]

Flanker 7,

Cheetah's, are A - II's modified by the Indians for use in Siachin, not the A-III. My mistake.

Though we have A-III's for training and other purposes.






Adux

[mountainbear]

Swiss AF:





Adux, I can’t see your pix, they’re hotlinked from bharat-rakshak and it’s been a few weeks that this site doesn’t work for me anymore. Am I the only one in this situation?

[The Lusiad Knight]

Comemorative painting for over 300.000 flying hours in Alouette III at Portuguese Air Force service













Photos taken by Nuno Martins
Link: http://walkarounds.home.sapo.pt/

[Chimera]

Can we compare them with the MH-6 Little Bird in terms of size ans purpose?

[lightfire]

Hey, I've seen those dancing there myself, great pics, reminds me the visit to the Irish f baze.

Though I personally, unlike others here, find this helicopter rather ugly. Old fashioned tin can, quite 60ties vintage and still flying, however I understand, that there must be and there some reasons for flying so long. It's like ugly but still efficient "french Huey", simple, reliable, easy to maintain.

[Lukáš]

Hm...nice photo nice :-D:)

[vulcanxm603]

If you can find some photos of the Rhodesian Alos you will see the subtle differences on the exhaust outlets and the infra red guards. Also the seating arrangements.

You can find some photos of the Rhodesian Alouette III's (K car & G car) on the Rhodesian Air Force Forum as well as SAAF aircraft on the African Military Aviation Forum.

[matsalleh18]

These?



I still see them flying

Yeah this baby,wohoo. nice copter.thx mate.

[James Phillips]

I wish one of the model manufacturers would produce a 1/48 kit of the Alouette III. It's one of the most widely exported helicopters in the world (seventy-something air forces have flown it). Fujimi had a decent one, but it's been out of production for over twenty years, and their Alouettes are nearly impossible to find now.
Instead of a zillion identical AH-64 Apaches (Airfix, Academy, Hasegawa, Heller, Hobbycraft, Italeri, Monogram, Revell Germany, and Testors have all produced 1/48 Apaches, all of them the same overall green, and all in US markings) I wish someone would give us kits of new subjects. Look at how little Apaches are selling for on eBay-the sellers can't give them away! Yet kits of more widely used helicopters like the Aerospatiale Alouette III, the Bell 206 Jet Ranger and the Mil Mi-8/Mi-17 still can't be found in 1/48 scale. It really makes no sense.

[The Lusiad Knight]

One of four Alouette III used Portuguese Air Force in 2000, in Timor, for UNTAET support.

[The Lusiad Knight]

Some more:








Photos by: Pedro M. Monteiro
Links: http://olhares.aeiou.pt/galeriasprivadas/browse.php?user_id=53118&id=48606 and http://pedromonteiro-photography.blogspot.com

[The Lusiad Knight]

Now talking about Alouette III's "older brother" Alouette II



Photo by: ClearedForTakeOff
Link: http://www.linhadafrente.net



Link: www.gnr.pt (http://www.gnr.pt)



Link: www.airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net)





Unknown authors
Link: http://www.falcoes.net/9gs

[PereiraMarques]

Nice to see all this rare Alouette II photos in portuguese service. Notice that the olive-green painted Heli is for Portuguese Air Force and the white painted with green strips are for para-military police GNR - Republican Nation Guard - Traffic Brigade. Obviously no more Alouette II are in portuguese service.

[Yosy]

Looks very similar to a Rhodesian K car.

Well technically the first K-cars were portuguese. We started the trend of adding machine-guns to the Alouette.

Quite a rare sight - the above pic of the Alouette with the UN paint scheme

[vulcanxm603]

Well technically the first K-cars were portuguese. We started the trend of adding machine-guns to the Alouette.

Quite a rare sight - the above pic of the Alouette with the UN paint scheme

Do you have any info on the Alouette III's used in mozambique and those given to the Rhodesian Air Force when Mozambique got its independence??
I have some of the aircraft histories as these ended up in the South African Air Force when Rhodesia became Zimbabwe.

[Tintxo]

Argentina`s Navy Alouette III









The following chopper went down during Desert Shield, it was recovered and repaired:




All photos:http://histarmar.net/Armada%20Argentina/AviacionNaval/Hel-AluetteA103.htm

[The Lusiad Knight]

Portuguese Alouette III with floaters:




Photos by: Jotapicos and Costa
Link: http://www.falcoes.net/9gs

[Gerard]

The RNLAF still has some as well, but there are only a few left though.
The only thing the last few are really getting used for is filming or taking pictures on events like air shows and stuff like that.




The RNLDAF has still 4 left, all are blue and used for Royal flight and VIP transport. A few of the old ones were sold to Malta.

[vulcanxm603]

These photos were taken at the Army Flying School at Middle Wallop on the 13th June 2008. I know the topic is Alouette III, but as the predecessor I thought these of the Alouette II might be appropriate. This one went out to join a Westland Scout, a Aerospatiale Gazelle and a Westland Lynx for a short flying display.

[cold_warrior]

Atlas XH-1 Alpha. Used by the SAAF to evaluate the utility of a helicopter gunship in Southern Africa.

It's an Alouette III modified to a two-seater with a 20mm chin gun.

[vulcanxm603]

Some pics of the Rhodesian, South African and Portuguses Air Force Alouette III 'K' cars. Note the difference between the Portuguese and the Rhodesian/SAAF ways of carrying the ammunition for the 20mm cannon.


Rhodesian Alouette III 'K' car






SAAF Alouette III 'K' car




Portuguese Alouette II 'K' car

[cold_warrior]

Thanks for the pics, Vulcan.

Although it is a bit weird to have a folder titled "FAP" on my desktop.

[vulcanxm603]

Rhodesian Alouette III's






















SAAF Alouette III's

[the_hog]

Atlas XH-1 Alpha. Used by the SAAF to evaluate the utility of a helicopter gunship in Southern Africa.

It's an Alouette III modified to a two-seater with a 20mm chin gun.
Nice photos Bru, do you by any chance have another view of this one?

[vulcanxm603]

Nice photos Bru, do you by any chance have another view of this one?

Heres another view of it in the air.



Atlas (before becoming known as Denel) produced the XH-1 Alpha design to which served the company well in terms of developmental research. The XH-1 was based highly on the French-made Aerospatiale Alouette III system, though hardly a dedicated attack helicopter platform and still utilizing 1960's technology. XH-1 would flew in early 1986 followed by two converted XTP-1 Beta gunships in the form of Aerospatiale SA 330 Pumas (production versions of the Rooivalk would indeed feature the SA 330's transmission and rotor system), designed from the outset as test beds. Utilizing information gained form both test types, designs were being drawn up for the Rooivalk as early as 1984 with the initial flyable XH-2 Rooivalk getting airborne by early 1990.

[cold_warrior]

Vulcan, those are great. Thanks so much for sharing.

Here's another one I found of the XH-1 A:

[the_hog]

Some how this chopper does not look right. Not quite a Rooivalk or an Alouette.

[vulcanxm603]

Some how this chopper does not look right. Not quite a Rooivalk or an Alouette.

Bear in mind it was only the evaluation & test platform, a one of. Modification was the name of the game and the order of the day.

[the_hog]

Ja true enough, the chin gun is a good step here.

[Avid Aviator]

Pakistan Navy's Alouette III with Depth Charge.

[vulcanxm603]

Ja true enough, the chin gun is a good step here.

I have a photo of one of the 2 Puma's used as weapons test platforms for the AH-1A & Rooivalk. Would post it here but it does not apply to this thread. you will find it and the SAAF Puma % Oryx on the following link http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=96358&highlight=aerospatiale+puma

[the_hog]

Thanks for that Vulcanxm603.

[Dark Avenger]

Hellenic Navy Alouettes, SE-3160, IAR-316, IAR-317 Airfox and the SE-3164 prototype.

[corran.pl]

This looks very interesting.

[vulcanxm603]

SAAF



Rhodesia (Alouette II, Alouette II & Bell 205)



FAP Alouette III (G car)

[vulcanxm603]

This looks very interesting.

SA.3164
Alouette III with stepped windshield and nose-mounted 20mm canon and external missile points. Prot FF 24 June 1964.

[cold_warrior]

Is that SAAF?

[Dark Avenger]

No, it was a French prototype. It was found that the weight of the gun and missiles degraded performance and so it was not accepted for production.

[Cyclop]

AUSTRIA





pics: (c) Bundesheer:

Infos (Status) and more pics: http://www.doppeladler.com/oebh/luftfahrzeuge/alouette3.htm

[prion]

Some closer views as a gun platform ( at SAAF Museum )

[/URL]

(http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=09134748wy7.jpg)



Sorry for pic quality

(http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/4968/09134812cf3.jpg)



Alpha XH-1 with some specs


[URL="http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2905/09134308wp9.jpg"] (http://img299.imageshack.us/my.php?image=09134308wp9.jpg)

[Lancero]

More Rhodesian, Portuguese and South African

[Yosy]

FAP Alouette III (G car)



This is wrong - this Alouette is portuguese; it is deploying troops in Angola during the Portuguese Colonial War.

The captions reads: "assault in Sanga Bush"

Btw great portuguese pics Lancero

[Dark Avenger]

That's a Portugese example, right? Any details/photos of its armament system?

[Lancero]

^^
That's why it says "FAP Alouette III (G car)", Yosi ;)

[vulcanxm603]

More Rhodesian, Portuguese and South African


Many thanks for sharing these. Some great pics

[prion]

Many thanks for sharing these. Some great pics


Please my friend . Do not quote all the pics. Some of us have limited bandwith.

But I agree. Really nice pics.



Lancero , you are a poster of profound quality. I bow!

[-Max-]

Thanks for the interesting post, Lancero. Great pics. :)

[Yosy]

^^
That's why it says "FAP Alouette III (G car)", Yosi ;)

OK, but it's better not to use G-Car for Alouettes that are not rhodesian IMO.

[vulcanxm603]

OK, but it's better not to use G-Car for Alouettes that are not rhodesian IMO.

Will do, but what did the FAP call them?

[vulcanxm603]

Please my friend . Do not quote all the pics. Some of us have limited bandwith.

But I agree. Really nice pics.



Lancero , you are a poster of profound quality. I bow!

Sorry, have changed the quote to exclude pics.

[Yosy]

Will do, but what did the FAP call them?

Nothing in particular - just Alouettes.

Among the troops the transport Alouettes were called "Canibais" (Canibals) and the Alouette gunships were called "Lobos Maus" (Big Bad Wolves).

[The Lusiad Knight]

Link: http://www.emfa.pt/www/po/rotores/galeria.htm

[The Lusiad Knight]

Photos by: pmsr
Link: http://www.falcoes.net/9gs

[PereiraMarques]

[Boina verde]

300.000 hours, Jesus that's colossal.

[PereiraMarques]

Alouette II, Alouette III "older brother":-P